Lynda Baker describes nine years of Sedgwick County service, office modernization and focus on tax revenue

Jeff Bluebalt, who identifies himself as the Sedgwick County Commission, interviewed Lynda Baker, executive assistant for the Sedgwick County Commission, about her nine-year career with Sedgwick County and recent changes in how the commission office operates.

Baker said she began working for the county in June 2017, spent two and a half years in the county clerk’s office and nearly five years in the county manager’s office before moving to the commission office in September 2024. She described the clerk’s office as "the secretary for the county commission," and said timely filing of documents after meetings is a central part of the commission office workflow.

Baker outlined close coordination with the county manager’s office, mentioning "Tom and his staff" as frequent contacts who provide background information and research to support commissioners’ decision-making. She said the proximity of the offices and regular collaboration help the commission operate smoothly.

On modernizing operations, Baker described an experiment to digitize files and reduce administrative headcount. "This position is normally run with two admins," she said, and by digitizing records and relying on collaboration with the manager’s office and backup support from a colleague, Sherry, "we were able to save a staffing position." Baker said the arrangement has worked "very, very well" so far and allows the office to maintain continuity when she is absent.

Baker told Bluebalt she prioritizes rapid constituent response, explaining she is "hyper organized" and tries to address emails quickly or route them to the appropriate staff. Commissioners praised that responsiveness as important to constituent service.

Asked about long-term challenges facing Sedgwick County, Baker pointed to revenue concerns and reliance on property taxes. "There's a lot of focus on the revenue issue, property taxes versus can we find another revenue stream?" she said, calling it "one of the biggest issues" she sees from her vantage point.

The interview included brief personal notes — Baker said she is a Chicago Cubs fan and attended a wild-card game in Chicago — and ended with the pair sharing contact information for constituents. Bluebalt provided jeff.blueball@sedgwick.gov; Baker gave linda.Baker@Sedgwick.gov and clarified her name spelling as "L y n d a." The interview closed with mutual thanks.